I rolled my eyes at Dean’s over protectiveness. “I wondered why none of his friends lasted.”
“Dean would cut off his friendships as soon as they looked at you funny. I would get pissed off too when they watched you. He thought I was being protective too. What he didn’t know was I was jealous.”
“You were jealous?” I asked astonished he was confiding in me. He was saying thing I had only dreamed about and more. I smiled brightly forgetting everything bad that happened drowning in happiness.
“Of course I was jealous. You know how many guys I had to threaten when they would say anything about you.”
“How many?”
“You’re enjoying this I see.”
“Yes, I’m enjoying this. I had to endure watching you be Mr. Casanova with all the girls you paraded in front of me. You never once looked at me with anything but annoyance and you called me, Lucser.”
“I had to keep you away. If you got any closer I wouldn’t have been able to keep my promise to Dean. Hell, you almost ruined it when you trapped me in his room on graduation.”
“You did kiss me back!” I cried in victory.
“Yes, I kissed back. You were like a dream come true in your tiny little blue dress. I almost ended my friendship with Dean that night. If you were eighteen it would have been over.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?” My stomach quivered as his finger moved closer to my center.
“Because you’d just gotten out of a horrible situation. The last thing you needed was some love sick loser confessing his love for you. I meant it when I said I wanted you to see how good we were together. To see you needed me before I let you in on my deep dark secret.”
“This is like a dream. I’ve wanted you to see me for so long and now you’re telling me you were in love with me this whole time. I was so afraid you were going to break my heart but I couldn’t deny you.”
“Why do you think I stayed at Dean’s house? The farmhouse was done and if you would have called one day later I would have already moved out. I wanted to be near you.”
“But the way you acted. I don’t get it.”
“First it was because I didn’t want to overwhelm you. I also wanted to see if you still had a crush on me. Your crush would’ve been easier to change your mind to love.”
“You’re insane,” I laughed shaking his finger still on my stomach.
“Insane for you. You’re it for me, Lucy.”
“Good because you’ve always been the one.”
Jackson leaned in and kissed me deeply his finger dipping further down until it hit the wetness his attention caused.
“I’m going to protect you. I promise nobody’s going to hurt you. You’re not going to be out of my sight until we catch whoever the hell is fucking with you. And they better hope the cops are close because if they aren’t I’m going to kill them for what they put you through.”
“Enough talking about them. I’m safe here with you and the only one who’s going to die is me if you don’t make love to me.”
“Well we wouldn’t want that now would we?” With extreme care Jackson moved until he hovered over me. He used his elbows to keep his weight off me.
We both exhaled when he entered me. Jackson went still after thrust fully inside of me not moving but keeping us joined.
“I love you, Lucy,” he whispered kissing me lightly.
“I love you, too,” I admitted my heart soaring as he finally began to move. With each stroke he pushed me higher until we both broke together.
Jackson’s phone rang and I groaned. “Ignore it.” I said cuddling closer to him.
When it rang again he got up kissing my forehead. He climbed back in bed and I watched his naked form with a smile on my face.
“No she’s fine. She’s not getting out of bed today.” Jackson winked at me as he settled in the bed with the phone still pressed to his ear.
“Meredith said she would keep us updated. I haven’t heard anything from her yet. But she said she would come over on her lunch break tomorrow.” Jackson nodded and finished his call throwing his phone on the side table.
“Dean says hi. He wanted to make sure I was treating you right.”
“It was nice you didn’t mention you just ravished me.”
Jackson gave me a shocked look his hand on his chest. “Those must be some good pain pills because I clearly remember you being the one to ravish me.”
“Well now you can make it up to me.”
21
I stretched my back and Jackson came up behind me to massage my shoulders. I groaned and pressed them harder into his thumbs. All day we worked on a new goat pen and the exercise was tiring.
It had been a week since my accident and for the first couple days I stayed in bed letting Jackson be my nurse. After the third day I was restless and worked on my computer while Jackson watched over me making me crazy. I tried to convince him to go to work but true to his word he stuck with me letting Dean take care of the business in person while Jackson worked from home.
One day during my confinement I’d mentioned how I’d always wanted goats. Remembering his parents had them bounding around when they used to live at the farmhouse before they retired in Florida. The next day Jackson woke me up early and we went to work building a pen for our future goats.
The physical exertion exhausted me but it felt good being able to work my muscles. Jackson did most of the work and we made a big dent in getting it started.
“Come on let me make you dinner and then we will go to bed.” I followed Jackson into the kitchen and sat at the island sipping wine while I watched him flip a bacon omelet on a plate and starting another one for him.
I yawned and Jackson shot me a worried look and I smiled leaning further on the marble island. My phone rang and I answered it with out checking it.
“Lucy, don’t hang up.”
The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I sat up straighter. Jackson shut off the stove and moved toward me leaving the unfinished omelet in the pan.
“Richard I told you to stop calling me.”
“Lucy, the cops were just here. My wife and I got back from vacation and they were waiting for me. They think my wife’s harassing you. You have to know she would never do that. I need you to tell them to leave her alone. I’m working on my marriage and I can’t fix it with the constant reminder of my mistake.” His tone was pleading and my weary mind was confused at the sincerity in it.
“Richard she hit me. She hates me because of what I did to her and I don’t blame her. It makes sense she would be getting her revenge.”
The phone was pulled from my hand and Jackson brought it to his ear. “Do not fucking call here again. Leave her alone and when I can prove you’re wife with or without you is messing with Lucy and my business you will wish you never met Lucy.”
Jackson’s jaw clenched at whatever Richard was saying to him. “I’m her boyfriend. Yeah, I’ll let her know. Don’t call here again.”
Jackson hung up the phone and sat it on the island. I watched him with his eye closed with frustration simmering off him. When he didn’t move I went behind him and put my arms around him putting my face on his back.
“I’m not hungry anymore. Come on.” I led Jackson to bed and crawled on top of him.
His body slowly relaxed as I stripped off my clothes before working on his. I sank down on him and rode him with abandon forgetting my tired limbs as we strove for our release.
After we were out of breath naked on the bed something wiggled in my mind. “Jackson?” I asked cautiously. With my mind clear and my body liquid a question kept tugging at my brain.
“What baby?” He brushed his fingers up and down my spine.
“What did Richard tell you before you hung up?”
“He said for you to be careful with me. He told me he had a crazy ex once too and he knows how it is to date a jealous person.”
I shook my head confused once more with Richard’s phone call. It appeared
as if he was trying to protect me while he was making my life a living hell. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“I was thinking the same thing. I’m going to call Meredith tomorrow and have her put more surveillance on Richard’s wife. Something isn’t adding up. And I have a feeling it’s about to explode. I just want to make sure we’re out of the way.”
The next day I sat on the bed brushing my hair and talking to Trina. “Why is it one part of my life is perfect and the other is so utterly fucked up?”
Jackson was outside working on the goat pen and I was going to join him when Trina called.
“Has anything else happened?” Trina asked through the phone.
I bit my lip before confessing, “Richard called me last night.”
“What?!” Trina yelled over the phone making me take it from my ear. “What did he want? Did he admit he’s stalking you?”
“No, he said he was on vacation with his wife.”
“Which would explain why everything has been so quiet lately. And nobody has bothered you.”
“I guess,” I said hesitantly.
I didn’t want to tell Trina I was doubting Richard’s wife’s guilt. She was so sure it was Richard’s wife who was attacking me. I didn’t want to tell her I was rethinking it just in case I was wrong.
“What do you mean you guess? Who else could it be but his wife? She sucker punched you when she found out about you. She’s a scorned woman who wants revenge.”
Trina’s words made sense but my phone call with Richard and the warning he gave to Jackson. “I’m wondering if I’m the first girl Richard has cheated on his wife with.”
My mind went clear as I said it out loud. Maybe the ex was the piece we were missing. Could Richard have screwed up another girl’s life enough she was trying to get revenge?
“Who cares if you’re the first one or not. I’m telling you Richard’s wife is crazy. The bruise on your face was proof enough for that. Your police friend needs to get off her ass and arrest her before you get hurt. Look what happened with your car. Have you heard anything about that?”
I let Trina change the subject. Anytime we talked about Richard’s wife she would get upset hating what she did to me. I obliged her and answered her question.
“Meredith’s mechanic couldn’t get much off my brake lines because of where the tree hit. They are totaling my car but the insurance company won’t pay for it until the police close the investigation.”
“That sucks.”
“It does but I have every confidence in Meredith. We were inseparable when we were high school. So I think she is taking this personal.”
“Well, if she was smart she would go pick up that madwoman and get rid of the treat if she was really your friend.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Police work doesn’t work like that. She has to have evidence before she can make an arrest. You’re just biased because you love me and want me protected.”
“I just worry about you. It’s so obvious to me who needs to be arrested and I don’t want you to get hurt more than you already are.” Trina’s voice was hard and I smiled at her worry for me.
“I love you too.” Jackson was making his way to the sliding glass door when he saw me coming out. I pointed to the phone and he nodded going back to goat pen he was building.
“Be careful. And let me know if Meredith figures out how to get that crazy bitch off the streets.”
We hung up and I made my way outside just in time to see Jackson shrug off his shirt as he hammered in the posts. Drool flooded my mouth at the delicious sight and I swallowed hard.
“Hey beautiful.” He swung around with his thumb in his belt loop. “I was wondering if you fell asleep. Who was on the phone?”
“Trina called to complain about Meredith not arresting who she is sure is bothering me.”
He frowned and came over to kiss me. “I would agree with her.” He broke off and I wondered if he was having the same reservation as I was.
“Jackson, I keep thinking about what Richard told you about having a crazy ex.”
His gaze bore into me as I spoke.
“I’m wondering if maybe I wasn’t the first person Richard has cheated on his wife with.”
“That would make more sense as to why his wife is coming after you.” Jackson said but the hesitation in his voice told me he was maybe taking another path.
“Or we are looking at the wrong scorned girl.”
“I’m going to go call Meredith.” Jackson took my hand as we walked together into the living room.
When Jackson hung up I put my head on his chest. “What did she say?”
“She’s going to go question, Richard. It makes sense.” Jackson’s gaze was far away and I stroked his stomach to get his attention.
“Just think we may have solved the case and you can go back to work,” I teased.
“Don’t tell me you are getting sick of me already.”
I smacked him on his naked chest and couldn’t resist rubbing the heated skin. “No, I’m not sick of you. I just think we’re overreacting a little and you shouldn’t have your life stop because you’re stuck baby sitting me.”
“Baby sitting is the last thing on my mind when I think of what I want to do with you. And no we’re not overreacting someone cut your brake lines, Lucy.”
“I know,” I yelled. Frustrated with the whole situation.
This wasn’t right. I should be the happiest girl in the world. The man I’d had a crush on since third grade confessed he was in love with me. We got along perfectly and his house was quickly becoming my own.
But instead I had to look over my shoulder at every turn. Any noise had me jumping out of my skin. And I couldn’t figure out who the fuck was torturing me.
“I hate this. Why can’t it be normal?” Tears burned my eyes and I let them fall.
Jackson pulled me to him and I felt my tears slide down his chest. “It’s going to be fine. We’re going to figure this out. Just give it time. I know you’re frustrated and scared but it won’t be much longer.”
I huffed and pushed away so I could wipe my face. “I hate feeling so helpless. I hate that you have to put your life on hold because of some asshole who wants revenge.”
Jackson brushed his hand over my cheeks and kissed a lone tear away. “Baby, my life isn’t on hold. I love having you here helping me get the house ready. And I hope you know when this whole thing is over you’re not going anywhere. This is your house.”
My breath hitched and it had nothing to do with my emotional outburst. “Ugh, and then you say shit like that.”
I moved away but Jackson laid down and pulled me on top of him. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means you are too damn perfect. I love you so fucking much and I’m just waiting for it to end. Life isn’t supposed to be this good.” I sounded like a petulant child but it was fear driving me.
Jackson’s chest convulsed up and down. When I looked at him he was doing his best to hold back a laugh. I pushed him and he burst out laughing.
“It’s not funny.” I attempted to get off the couch but he held me against him.
“Lucy, you have a crazy person who is eluding the police after you. And you think life is good, because you have a loving boyfriend who is terrified to let you out of his sight.”
“Are you my boyfriend?” I asked putting my elbows on his pecs to hold my chin up.
“You know I’m your boyfriend.” His hand covered the back of my neck dragging my lips toward his.
Jackson was ridding me of my shirt when there was a knock at the door. Our foreheads rested on each other as we caught our breath. Another knock hit the door and I climbed off of Jackson.
“We will finish what we started.” He yanked the door open and I smiled when Meredith jumped at the fierce look on Jackson’s face.
“Hi, Mer.” I bumped Jackson with my hip making him move out of the way so Meredith could come in.
“Did something happen?” she asked i
n my ear as she headed toward the couch.
“No, nothing happened,” Jackson answered her.
Meredith was confused until his meaning must have hit her. She gave a soft laugh and sat on the couch. “I didn’t mean to cock block you, Jackson. In my defense I did tell you I was coming over on my lunch.”
Jackson grumbled as he went to the refrigerator and grabbed water for all of us. “I’ll be in a better mood if you tell me you’ve found something.”
Meredith’s smile disappeared as her cop persona slid over her face. “We haven’t found anything. Richard and his wife left the state to go on vacation and everything has been quiet.”
“How convenient,” Jackson growled pushing off the recliner and pacing the room.
“I don’t know. It seems the only option but they have solid alibi’s.” Meredith reached for her phone as it rang.
“Then we’re missing something and Lucy and I think maybe we have the answer,” Jackson said right before his phone rang.
“I’m on my way. I’m at Mr. Holler’s house at the moment.” Meredith got off the couch still on the phone. Her body was tight as she spoke.
“I’m on my way.” Jackson hung up the phone snatching his keys out of the bowl by the door. “Come on, Lucy. I’m not leaving you alone.”
“What happened?”
“There was a fire at one of our job sites.” Jackson helped me in the truck as Meredith sped out of the driveway with us following her.
The fire trucks were rolling up their hose’s when we arrived. Dean waited near the caution tape ready to go in when he got the okay.
Jackson helped me out of the truck. We stood next to Dean as Meredith talked to another police officer and a suited fireman. She came over her shoes crunching on the dirt path.
“They were able to put the fire out with minimum damage. I would like to look at the security footage.”
Dean nodded and we followed him into the foreman trailer. Dean pulled up the footage and cursed when the fire started without any trace of who did it.
“It has to be an inside person,” Jackson said his hand clenching as we watched the fire being put out on the screen. “They knew where the camera’s were and avoided them.”
First Kiss Page 14